Fence



(No Model.)

J.0.BROOKBANK.

FENCE.

No.458321. Patentm1Sept.1,189L

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES O. BROOKBANK, OF DRIFTVVOOD, PENNSYLVANIA.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 458,821, dated September 1, 1891.

Application filed October 29, 1890. Serial No. 369,688. (No model.-)

To all whomit may concern/.-

Be it known that I, J AMES 0. BROOKBANK, of Driftwood, in the county of Cameron and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Fences, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in wire fences; and it consists in a metallic post of improved construction, in an improved manner of attaching the wire to the posts, and in the details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a postcmbodying my invention, showing a wire confined by alocking device and a locking device lifted so that the wire can be removed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 00 a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is aperspective view of one of the locking devices. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of post.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a post, which is constructed by bending a sheetmetal strip by any suitable means into tubular form and flaring its ends a a outward, as shown in Fig. 1. This post may be provided at its lower end with asharpened point B, inserted therein, to enter the ground, or it may be otherwise formed for this purpose. At intervals the flaring ends of the sheetenetal strip forming the post are provided with downwardly and inwardlyinclined notches Z), wider at their upper than at their lower ends. Each of these notches is adapted to receive a wire 0, which rests near the bottom thereof.

D D &c., represent locking devices for confining the wires in the notches. Each consists of a metal plate bent at its sides to cmbrace the flaring ends a a, so that the locking device can move up and down on the post. The edges of the bent sides of the locking device are inclined toward the front downward in a direction opposite to the inclination of crating in conjunction with the slots in the post, when driven downward to confine the wire, act to force the same with a wedging action down into the notch which, diminishing in width toward the bottom, will pinch the wire in such manner as to securely hold it in place and prevent any motion thereof whatever.

Owing to the flaring ends of the sheet-metal strip forming the post and to the bent sides of the locking device embracing the same, it will be observed that the locking device is free to be slipped up and down on the post, but is prevented from escaping therefrom. It will also be seen that any movement of the locking device from the post in a lateral direction will tend to lock the parts by causing the bent sides to wedge upon the flaring ends a a. From this it will be seen that while confined, if the wires are subjected to transverse or cross strain, the effect willbe to more firmly secure the locking device upon the post.

In Fig. 5 I have represented amodified form of post in cross-section. In this case the post is solid, consisting of a longitudinal rail provided on one side with a dovetail rib, which corresponds, so far as its exterior form is concerned, to the flaring ends of the sheetmctal post. The action of a post of this form in connection with the locking device is pre cisely the same as in the first case.

In confining a wire during the process of constructing a fence the locking devices are first raised, as shown, at the bottom in Fig. 1. The wires are then slipped in the notches and the locking devices driven downward thereon. The inclined edges encountering thc'wire will cause the same to be forced with a wedging action into the notch. When it is desired to remove the wires, the locking devices are moved upward until their ends free the notches, when the wire may be lifted there from.

My invention, as embodied in a structure such as described, may be employed with advantage in the culture of grapes for supporting the vines and for other similar purposes Having thus described my invention, what I claim is loo 1. The post provided with the flaring poring locking device embracing said flaring portion and adapted to rest upon and confine the wire within the notch, whereby lateral strain on the wire will cause the flaring portion of the locking device to tighten on the post.

2. The post provided with the flaring portion and the notch in said flaring portion, in combination with the locking device embracing said flaring portion and provided with the inclined edge to operate in conjunction with the notch.

3. The post provided with the flaring portion and the downwardly and inwardly inclined notch in said flaring portion, in combination with the sliding lockin g device embracing said flaring portion and provided with downwardly and outwardly inclined edges.

4. The improved fence-post consisting of the body provided on its side with the longitudinal outwardly-flaring portion provided with notches for the wires, whereby it is adapted to receive a vertically-movable looking device to confine the Wires, substantially as described.

5. The post provided with the downwardlyinclined notch wider at its top than at its bottom, in combination with the locking device provided with the inclined edge to operate in conjunction with the notch, whereby the wire on being forced by the locking device down into the notch will be pinched thereby and securely held.

6. The improved fence-post consisting of the single piece of sheet metal bent into tubular form, with the edges of the sheet flaring, said flaring outward edges provided with notches to receive the wire.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 22d day of September, 1890, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

JAMES 0. BROOKBANK.

Witnesses:

GEO. L. SMITH, M. P. WHITING. 

